At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018, McAfee, the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company, unveils its latest Mobile Threat Report revealing over 16 million infestations detected in the third quarter of 2017 alone – nearly double the number from last year. In order to secure the increasing number of consumer devices susceptible to attack, McAfee is announcing key partnerships to ensure security is built-in across devices and networks. It’s more important than ever that the entire ecosystem works together to protect consumers around the world from these attacks and deliver them peace of mind.

The last year not only marked an explosion in mobile malware, but also showed significant changes in the mobile landscape, setting up 2018 to be a year of advanced and targeted attacks. The estimated 5 billion mobile users worldwide proved to be enticing bait for malware authors who ramped up not only the number of attacks but also their own sophistication.

Partnership with Samsung extended to safeguard all Galaxy S9 smartphones, the Galaxy Note8, along with Samsung’s smart TVs, PCs and notebooks

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note8 come pre-installed with anti-malware protection powered by McAfee VirusScan and Samsung Secure Wi-Fi, for which McAfee provides backend infrastructure. Samsung’s Secure Wi-Fi helps ensure sensitive information can be encrypted and protected, which will reduce the security threats associated with using unprotected public and private Wi-Fi spots while on the go.

“It’s crucial for businesses to collaborate in order to tackle the significant increase in security threats. No one company can do it alone. Our partners share our belief that security must be built in from the start and prioritised to canvass all devices and networks.

“For consumers, keeping their data and privacy safe is becoming a real concern. They need to be able to trust that the brands they’re buying and the products they’re using are fully equipped to deliver the level of security they need. Our partners are taking proactive measures to do just this.”

McAfee Labs detected over 16 million mobile malware infestations in the third quarter of 2017, with new threats emerging around the globe, spanning from Afghanistan and Algeria to Sweden, the U.K., the U.S., and Cuba. The primary motivation – money. However, the more concerning trend is targeted attacks. The report details the working of several targeted campaigns discovered by McAfee including the first attempt of the Lazarus group into mobile, and outlines the discovery of a new threat campaign against protesters in Iran during recent anti-government protests.

Targeted attacks spike on mobile – From North Korean dissidents and journalists to protesters in Iran, targeted attacks have increased globally. Mobile devices are the preferred choice for attackers to gather intelligence and track victims.

Persistent threats – The increasing proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices are certainly bringing convenience and ease, but they are also significantly increasing the threat landscape, increasing the number of possible points of attack in our homes.

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About McAfee

McAfee is the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company. Inspired by the power of working together, McAfee creates business and consumer solutions that make our world a safer place. By building solutions that work with other companies’ products, McAfee helps businesses orchestrate cyber environments that are truly integrated, where protection, detection and correction of threats happen simultaneously and collaboratively. By protecting consumers across all their devices, McAfee secures their digital lifestyle at home and away. By working with other security players, McAfee is leading the effort to unite against cybercriminals for the benefit of all. www.mcafee.com